Monday, October 30, 2017

Kathleen McGurl lives in Bournemouth with her husband. She has two sons who are both now at university. She always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has published several novels with HQ and Carina UK and self-published another. She has also sold dozens of short stories to women's magazines, and written three How To books for writers. She works full time in the IT industry and when she's not writing, she's often out running, slowly. Her latest book is The Girl from Ballymor, a dual timeline story set in Ireland during the Great Famine.

Over to you Kathleen...

This
year I spent six months travelling around Europe in a motorhome with my
husband. I was lucky to get six months off work - I work for John Lewis and it
was the reward for having done over 25 years with them. But of course, six months
off work means six months away from the day job only. No time off from writing,
and I wouldn’t want to, anyway!

We
left home in early April and travelled through France, Italy, Croatia, Spain
and Portugal, arriving home in early October. It was, as you might imagine, an
amazing trip.

At the beach in northern Spain

I
knew I’d have a new book coming out while I was away (The Girl from Ballymor)
and had also agreed to a deadline to hand in the next book. One problem with
life in a motorhome is that there’s no space to bring a printer. So I’d rushed
to complete a draft of the new book before we left home, printed it, and took
that with me as I prefer to edit by scribbling in red pen over a printout.

But
the next rewrite, following my editor’s feedback, had to be done on screen with
no printout to scribble on. I found that hard as it’s a different way of
working. Maybe I should have found a print-shop but I don’t know the word for
it in Italian!

I
started a new novel after those two edits, and that was easier, although
writing about rainy, damp Ireland when I was dealing with an Italian heat-wave
was not always easy.

The glorious Dolmites

At
home I mostly write in the evenings, outside of the day-job hours. While
travelling I tried to write in the late afternoon and early evening, after we’d
arrived wherever we were going to park for the night, and before we had our
evening meal and the wine that invariably went with it. It wasn’t always
possible if we were out for a long day or needed to spend time blogging or
planning the next few days, and I made a point of not beating myself up if
several days went by with no words written. After all, the trip was primarily
about the travelling.

When
possible I sat outside to write, trying not to be distracted by gorgeous views
over the sea or mountains. As it only rained during the day about three times
on the entire trip (and I am not joking!) in theory I could sit outside always.
But as anyone who’s tried using a laptop in bright sunlight will know, it’s not
always easy to see what you are doing. I must buy one of those laptop sun-hoods
before any future trips.

An
essential piece of kit was a 12v laptop charger so I could charge the laptop
even if we weren’t hooked up to mains electricity, which was often, as we
free-camped a lot.

Writing at a Croatian campsite

The
Girl from Ballymor came out in early September, and my challenge then was to
try to do some promotion for it while on the move. I have a good phone contract
with a large data allowance that can be used while roaming, so I was able to
use Twitter and Facebook the same as at home. And check Amazon rankings, of
course! My publicist asked if I could do a pre-recorded radio interview for
Talk Radio Europe. I agreed and then spent many sleepless nights fretting about
how best to manage this. I needed to make sure on the day of the interview we
would be parked somewhere with no background noise, and I’d need to be in the
van with closed windows for quiet, so preferably under some shade so I didn’t
pass out with the heat... Of course I was worrying for nothing and it all went
well in the end.

Many
of the places we went to provided inspiration for future novels. I write dual
timeline – a historical mystery resolved in the present day – and love visiting
anywhere with a bit of history attached. So – most of Italy, then! Highlights for
future writing ideas were Certaldo in Tuscany (home of Boccaccio), the restored
lemon groves in Limone, Lake Garda, and Pompeii, of course.

A Tuscan sunset - inspiration for a future book?

I
know of a few other writers who write while in their campervans. It takes a bit
of adjustment and requires a lot of flexibility, but the rewards are well worth
it. Writing is one of those jobs you can do anywhere, and having a campervan
allows you to be anywhere. It’s a
match made in heaven.

Thank you Kathleen for that insight into an amazing trip and the challenges of writing on the move.

Friday, October 27, 2017

There are lots more competitions to get your teeth into this month. Three of them are free to enter, two of which have an interesting twist.

The Bubo competition wants entries it can add illustrations and music to. Bubo are developing an app that is soon to launch on Apple Store and may be at least one future of literature. When we think of stories with illustrations, it's normally children's tales that come to mind, but Bubo are also asking for adult literature, which brings a whole new challenge. The recent adult animation Loving Vincent, based on Van Gogh's paintings, came to mind as a similar idea. You can find out a bit more about the here.

new app

The New Media Prize is likewise looking at the future of e-literature, this time using images and video clips, among other things. This competition is more likely suitable for those who are particularly computer savvy and worth a go if you are.

For the rest of us, there are plenty of traditional short story comps among this month's selection, with a good variety of lengths. If you're a children's or YA author, the Chicken House competition is offering an excellent prize of a contract, money and an agent. Expensive at £15 entry, but then there's a lot to win.

Happy comping everyone, and don't forget to let us know of any competition success you have.

Bubo Short Story / Your World, Our Music Contest
Theme: Adult or Children's literature, 2,000 – 4,000 words.
Prize: Winning entries will be published in an ebook with synchronised music and illustrations created specifically for them.
Closing date: 15 November 17
Entry: FreeDetails

Francesca Capaldi Burgess has been placed or shortlisted in a number of competitions including Winchester Writers' Conference, Retreat West, Meridian Writing, Wells Festival and Writing Magazine. She's had stories and a serial published in magazines worldwide and in three anthologies, including Diamonds and Pearls and 100 Stories for Haiti. She is a member of the RNA New Writers' Scheme and the Society for Women Writers and Journalists. Francesca runs a writing blog along with RNA member, Elaine Roberts.TwitterWrite Minds Blog

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

A
blog post here a little while ago suggested that hotels make great settings for
novels. Having spent a life-time in the hospitality industry, I completely agree.

It
began way back, when as an unhappy teen at an all girl’s grammar school, I left
home, much to my parent’s horror and for a couple of years’, waited tables on
the south coast. Deciding that hotel life was for me I studied, worked hard,
took relevant jobs and eventually ended up owning my own pub, followed by a lovely
country house hotel. I’d always wanted to write but having had a poor start
with education, which I endeavoured to put right along the way, I thought I wasn’t
good enough and that no one would want to read my work. Life was busy too, with
a demanding job, frequent disasters, family to care for and many
responsibilities. There was little time to indulge my fantasy of writing but
the hotel was a perfect setting with an ever-changing cast as guests came and
went and I never knew who was going to walk through the door or what would
happen next. Confidences were shared over cocktails and as a hotelier, I learnt
to be discreet, little knowing that ideas had been subliminally planted in my writing
brain. The beautiful old building was a character too, constantly demanding in
its upkeep and changing moods as the seasons came and went.

Five
years ago, with the years creeping on, I had an epiphany. Start writing! A
story set in an hotel had been in my head for a long time and would no longer
be silenced. It demanded to be written and determined, I glued my rear to a
chair and began. It was frustrating, exhausting and difficult as I snatched
hours early in the morning and late at night until eventually, Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me was born. Next,
I trawled through publishers and agents but no one wanted to know and in
frustration, I self-published. I’m no expert in publicity, nor did I ever
imagine that the story would take off but shortly after publication, it did.
The book went to number three in women’s fiction on Amazon, was E-book of the
Week in The Sun and a small publisher signed me for a follow-on. Three novels later
and thrillingly, I have recently signed with the award winning independent
British publisher, ChocLit, under their new imprint, Ruby Fiction.

My
next book is all about mid-lifers making their boomer years the best. I want my
characters to mentally run down the road to happiness as the years’ advance,
not hobble through the fog of thinking they’re past it. The Best Boomerville
Hotel is a retreat that offers courses from Clairvoyance in Midlife to Sharing
with the Shaman, alongside Boomer’s Boot-Camp and a plethora of studies to
enliven later years. If I still had my lovely country house, I know exactly what
I’d do with it, a real-life Hotel Boomerville would be created. In fact, I’d
want to be the first guest checking in.

I’ve
learnt during this time not to give up, that it is never too late to follow
your dream. My writing dream is coming true and if you are an aspiring writer, whatever
your age, I hope that the same will happen to you.

Caroline’sRuby Fiction debut, The Best Boomerville Hotel,
set in the Lake District, is a fun retreat for mid-lifers and has been
described as Britain’s entertaining answer to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
It will be published in 2018.

Caroline has owned and run businesses encompassing
all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that features in her novels.
She is based in the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever
she can. A public speaker, consultant and food writer, Caroline writes articles
and short stories and contributes to many publications.

Her
debut novel,Coffee, Tea, The Gypsy & Meis set in North West England, at the time of a famous
gypsy horse fair. The book went straight to number three on Amazon and
was E-book of the Week in The Sun. So, You Think You're A Celebrity...Chef? was
runner up the Winchester Writers festival for best TV Drama andtakes a light-hearted look at the world of
celebrity chefs as they battle it out for fame and fortune: Coffee, Tea, The
Caribbean & Mewas runner up at The Write Stuff, LBF, 2015
and isan Amazon best-seller and top
recommended read by Thomson Holidays. Jungle Rock, a romcom novella set in
Australia, revolves around a TV game show.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Today we welcome Anne Allen to the blog to talk about her Guernsey Novels series and the influence of the island she loves on her writing.

Anne Allen lives in Devon, by her beloved sea. She has three
children, and her daughter and two
grandchildren live nearby. Her restless
spirit has meant a number of moves which included Spain for a couple of years.
The longest stay was in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in
love with the island and the people. She contrived to leave one son behind to
ensure a valid reason for frequent returns.

By profession, Anne
was a psychotherapist, but long had the
itch to write. Now a full-time writer, she has written The Guernsey Novels,
five having been published and the sixth, The Betrayal, is due out on 20th
October 2017.

Over to Anne...

I first visited Guernsey, the subject of all my novels, in
1987 and immediately fell in love. Not with a man, dear reader, but the island.
The man came much later… At the time I was a single mother of three young
children and worked as a psychotherapist, with no time or much incentive to
write. I moved us all to Guernsey a year later, the beginning of a life-long love affair.

Fast forward fourteen
years and I’m back in England, missing the island and having left No 1 son
behind as a reason for frequent returns. A couple of years later and my last
child left the nest and I decided if I did want to write that novel, now was a
good time before the brain cells atrophied. Encouragement came in the form of
winning a 500-word true-life story
competition in Prima magazine. The prize was £500 in M&S vouchers meaning I
was well-fed and well dressed during the following months of scribbling.

For me it was a no-brainer to choose Guernsey as my setting
for a story. It has all the necessary attributes: beautiful scenery, including
golden beaches; fascinating history from Neolithic times; numerous bars,
restaurants and cafés for my characters
to frequent and a couple of smaller islands nearby offering a change of scene.
Add to that a tragic and mysterious boating accident and an old cottage with
secrets and ‘Dangerous Waters’ was conceived. The birth took considerably
longer than nine months as I wrote and re-wrote the ms, finally joining the NWS
scheme on the advice of a friend, Anne Weale, a former RNA president. In spite
of all the help I received, I was unable to attract an agent and finally
self-published in 2012, through Matador.

My next book, ‘Finding Mother’, was also set predominantly in Guernsey but at this point I hadn’t twigged
this was becoming a series, even though characters from the first book popped
up in book two. Duh! However, I did set up my own imprint, Sarnia Press, and
re-published ‘Dangerous Waters’ under that imprint. A year later I published
‘Guernsey Retreat’ and a series was now established – The Guernsey Novels. I
had the covers redesigned to create a branding and each cover has a
recognisable (to those who know!) Guernsey scene.

Guernsey, like the other Channel Islands, was occupied in
WWII by the Germans, and this has had a profound effect on both the landscape
of the island and the psyche of the Islanders.
I’ve been drawn to focus on this in all my books, often using something which happened during
the Occupation as having a knock-on effect on present-day characters. For
example, love affairs ending in tears crop up in some books, influencing the
doomed lovers’ descendants.

Although the books are a mix
of family drama and mystery, there is always a romantic thread, as befits a
proud Independent Member of the RNA. This is true of my latest title, ‘The
Betrayal’, my second dual-time novel set in both the Occupation years and the
present. Two separate historical facts inspired the
story: Renoir’s visit to Guernsey in 1833 when he painted numerous views of
Moulin Huet Bay and the forceful deportation of Jews on Guernsey to
concentration camps by the Germans. I’ve intertwined the two by having my WWII
character, Leo, of Jewish descent, own an unrecorded Renoir painting of Moulin Huet, which turns
up in a basement over sixty years later.

Thanks to Anne for that great insight into how Guernsey inspires your writing.

1940. Teresa Bichard and her baby are sent by her
beloved husband, Leo, to England as the Germans draw closer to Guernsey. Days
later they invade…

1942.
Leo, of Jewish descent, is betrayed to the Germans
and is sent to a concentration camp, never to return.

1945.
Teresa returns to find Leo did not survive and the family’s valuable art
collection, including a Renoir, is missing. Heartbroken, she returns to
England.

2011.
Nigel and his twin Fiona buy a long-established antique shop in Guernsey and
during a refit, find a hidden stash of paintings, including what appears to be
a Renoir. Days later, Fiona finds Nigel dead, an apparent suicide. Refusing to
accept the verdict, a distraught Fiona employs a detective to help her discover
the truth…

Searching for the true owner of the painting
brings Fiona close to someone who opens a chink in her broken heart. Can she
answer some crucial questions before laying her brother's ghost to rest?

Who betrayed Leo?

Who knew about the
stolen Renoir?

And are they
prepared to kill – again?

You can find out more about Anne on her website, on facebook, or by following @AnneAllen21 on twitter.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Today, in the latest of the series
‘Chatting with Publishers’, we are delighted to welcome Laurie Johnson to the
blog.

Harper Collins is a huge organisation split
into many component parts. Could you give our readers an insight into which
imprints you are involved with and what is your particular role?

I’m an
Associate Editor for the Mills & Boon Global Acquisition team within
HarperCollins. We work with colleagues in London, Toronto and New York to acquire
series editorial for global publication. In London, we work closely with the UK
business, including HQ and Mills & Boon marketing teams to support wider UK
publishing programmes. Within this role, I acquire and work with authors
writing across all UK series: Mills & Boon Modern, Historical, Medical, Cherish
and our brand new series, Dare launching in early 2018.

Because readers and writers are a nosey
bunch, we’d love to have a pocket history of your career to date.

At university,
I studied Creative Writing, which has put me in a good position to be an editor
since we had to learn how to give—and take—constructive feedback on stories. I
understand how brutal it can be, but appreciate that ultimately it’s a useful
process. From there I became a magazine editor, I did this for four years
before transitioning into commercial fiction publishing and finding my home at
Mills & Boon. I’ve worked for Mills & Boon in the office and as a
freelance editor for the last six years.

While this is a question that frequently
comes up it would be helpful to know what advice you would give writers wanting
to submit their manuscript to you.

Think about
your characters. Mills & Boon romances are all about the characters. You
could set your story anywhere within any situation, but the emotional journey your
hero and heroine go on is what is key. Remember to dig deep into your
characters, learn who they are, what their emotional conflicts are, what his/her
motivation is, what’s the end goal? Don’t shy away from the emotional, keeping
everything external and on the surface; get in there and learn what makes your
hero and heroine tick. Use their internal, emotional conflicts to drive the
story. Think about how they’re going to come together, what emotionally is
going to keep them apart and how they’re going to use what they’ve learned over
the course of the story to overcome their conflict and be together.

Ensure you
read the guidelines for your desired series and read as many of our titles as possible.
These provide the best guide to our readers’ tastes. And don’t give up. It can
be disheartening to get a rejection, but do keep trying!

What does a work need to have to make you
read beyond that first sentence; that first paragraph?

I look out for
a strong, exciting voice that captivates my attention from the very beginning. If
there’s an exhilarating story with three-dimensional characters we can’t help
but love in there too, then that’s a real bonus. But mainly we’re looking for
that great author voice we just want to read again and again.

Following on from the previous question,
you may often know immediately when something isn’t right for you. If it is
something in the story rather than the writer’s voice, would you encourage that
author to submit something different or perhaps even send you a rewrite?

Yes,
definitely. If it’s something that can be fixed, I’ll often send feedback so
the author can work on it more. If it’s something more fundamental in the story,
but the author has a strong voice, I’ll provide advice and ask them to submit
another project.

Do you ever have time to read for your own
pleasure; genres other than the ones that constitute your work? What would be
your genre of choice?

I’ve always
been an avid reader, although admittedly these days with reading for a living
it’s a lot less. However, I always ensure I’m reading something for pleasure.
This year I’m using the Goodreads Reading Challenge, it’s really helpful to keep
track of what I’ve read and what I thought of it.

While I read a
lot of competitive titles, which helps to identify trends in the romance market
etc., I do breakout of the Romance genre as much as I can. My go to is usually
Crime, I love authors like Kathy Reichs, James Patterson and Preston &
Child. I also love a good Fantasy; I’m currently re-reading Harry Potter and I’m the proud owner of
the entire Terry Pratchett Discworld collection! And an Action-Adventure, such
as Thunderhead (Preston & Child
again), anything about Atlantis or other lost worlds, always provides great
escapism. The only genre I avoid is Horror, I’m a real scaredy-cat!

Have you ever become so drawn to a real
place, albeit in a fictional context, that you just had to visit it?

Yes! I once
read Books, Baguettes & Bedbugs
by Jeremy Mercer, it’s set in a little bookstore in Paris called Shakespeare
and Company that sits opposite Notre-Dame Cathedral. I was so excited to see
it! It was exactly as described with books covering every conceivable surface,
it was bliss to get lost in there for hours. It’s a fabulous bookstore and I
highly recommend a visit for anyone who loves books!

If you didn’t do what you do, what would
your dream occupation be?

To be honest, this is my dream occupation so I’d hate to be
doing anything else!

A lovely thing
to be able to say whatever one’s job. Thank you for joining us today, Laurie.

Laurie was interviewed by Natalie Kleinman. Thank you Natalie for a wonderful interview.

Natalie Kleinman writes
contemporary and historical romantic novels. Her latest Escape to the
Cotswolds, is set in the beautiful English countryside and was
published by HarperCollins HQ Digital in June 2017.

Monday, October 16, 2017

Today we welcome Sophie Claire to the blog to talk about her experience with November writing challenge NaNaWriMo, where participants attempt to write a novel in a month.

Sophie writes emotional stories set in England and in
sunny Provence, where she spent her summers as a child. She has a French mother and a Scottish father, but was born
in Africa and grew up in Manchester, England where she still lives with her
husband and two sons.

Previously, she worked in Marketing and proofreading
academic papers, but writing is what she always considered her ‘real job’ and
now she’s delighted to spend her days dreaming up heartwarming contemporary
romance stories set in beautiful places.

You can find out more at www.sophieclaire.co.uk, on Twitter
@sclairewriter and on Facebook @sophieclairewriter

Over to Sophie...

This time last year I
decided to take part in NaNoWriMo. Why?

Well, for most of
October I had been wrestling with the opening of a new novel, but I was
frustrated at my lack of progress. I figured if I could complete the NaNo
challenge and write 50,000 words in a month, I’d be well on the way to
completing a first draft. However, I’d tried NaNoWriMo before with no success, and
I’m a slow writer, so I was more than a little apprehensive.

Throughout the month I
kept a diary of my progress. Here’s a quick peep to show you how I got on:

November 2016

Days 1-4:

I’m writing 2000 words
per day (weekdays only – weekends are too busy with family life) and the first
few days go according to plan, but my worry is can I sustain this pace for a
whole month? I have a plot outline and three or four characters, but the rest
is hazy, as it always is when starting a first draft. However, the doubts which
were slowing my progress before I started NaNoWriMo (Does this story have legs?
Is it going to work?) are laid to one side as I focus purely on output. NaNoWriMo
is unashamedly about quantity, not quality.

Days 5-10:

NaNoWriMo is making me
more disciplined about my writing, and I realise that in recent months I had
let my standards slip. I would start writing, then check emails. Write a bit
more, check Twitter, then Facebook, then do a little internet research – and
before I knew it I’d lost hours. Now, however, I don’t allow myself to do
anything else until my 2000 words are written. Surprisingly, this can take as
little as two and a half hours. I resolve to keep up the strict discipline once
NaNoWriMo is over. Then I wonder, is it easier to stay disciplined when you
know it’s only for a month? And perhaps there’s comfort too in knowing that
thousands of other writers (including friends) across the world are working
hard too?

Days 11-15:

I’m prioritising my
writing over other activities, and I hadn’t anticipated how satisfying this
would feel. I’m totally focused on my novel, and when I’m writing I lose track
of time. I’m really enjoying being immersed in my fictional world. It feels as
if a love affair has been rekindled.

Also, if NaNoWriMo is
anything like new year’s resolutions, then I’d expect the halfway point to be
the time when a lot of people give up. I’m still going, however, and proud to
have made it this far.

Days 16-20:

I unexpectedly hit a
wall and for several days in a row writing is like pulling teeth. I manage to keep
up with the word count, but it takes twice as long, and I’m worried: is this
the point where my plot will run out of steam? I’ve written thousands of words
but are they all rubbish? I tell myself it doesn’t matter; if it fails, I’ve
only lost a month’s work. Head down, I persevere.

Then I turn a page and
it all begins to flow again. There’s no time to analyse what caused the blip. I
keep forging ahead, relieved and thankful that the momentum is back.

Days 21-25:

I’m suddenly reminded
that I haven’t done any Christmas shopping and have no prospect of doing any
until NaNoWriMo is over so I make the spontaneous decision that, having
dedicated November to my novel, December will be a time of catching up with
family life and non-urgent jobs, like research and proofreading a friend’s
novel. This motivates me to work even harder at NaNoWriMo and I up my word
count from 2000 words per day to 2500.

Days 26-28:

I’ve reached 44,000
words and a writer friend emails to say ‘Make sure you get the ending down’.
She’s right. 50k words will be an achievement but it’s not a complete novel, so
now my focus shifts from meeting daily word counts to racing through the final
plot points before I run out of time. The characters are finally coming alive
now, and new scenes and twists are coming to me while I’m doing other things
like shopping; fortunately I carry a notebook with me everywhere and
frantically scribble notes so as not to forget these unexpected ideas. I love
this stage: the book is becoming a living breathing story in my head, and I
can’t wait to get to my computer each morning.

Days 29-30:

I hit 50,000 words on
day 29 – a day early – but the ending isn’t complete so I carry on writing. On
day 30 I cross the finishing line with 52,000 words under my belt. It’s rough,
it’s going to need a couple more drafts at least, but I have the beginnings of
a book. The first draft is always the hardest part of the writing process for
me and that’s done, so now I can look forward to reshaping and editing it in
the new year. The sense of achievement is huge! My goal was to kick-start a
slow-moving project and, thanks to NaNoWriMo, I’ve certainly achieved that.

Sophie x

Thank you for that insight into your NaNo month Sophie. It's fascinating to see how the writing process changes with a new structure or incentive.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Thank
you to Sheila Riley for compiling this month’s bumper crop of new releases.

TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED

ANNIE GROVES

Winter on the Mersey

Saga
Romance

Paperback
and ebook

Harper
Collins

19
October 2017

The dramatic fourth
story in the Empire Street Series.

Full of heartache and
triumph from the bestselling author of Christmas on the Mersey.

Kitty has seen her fair
share of tragedy and instead of thinking about romance, she is determined to do
her bit for King and country. Her life as a WREN means she is kept busy much of
the time, but when Kitty finds herself stationed back home on Merseyside, she
meets up again with Frank Feeny, the brave young officer who has always held a
place in her heart. Britain is on the verge of victory, but will Kitty embrace
the future and learn to love again?

HEIDI SWAIN

Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at
The Christmas Fair

Commercial
fiction

Paperback
and ebook

Simon
and Schuster

5th October 2017

When Anna takes on the
role of companion to the owner of Wynthorpe Hall, on the outskirts of
Wynbridge, she has no idea that her life is set to change beyond all
recognition.

A confirmed ‘bah humbug’
when it comes to Christmas, Anna is amazed to find herself quickly immersed in
the eccentric household, and when youngest son Jamie unexpectedly arrives home
it soon becomes obvious that her personal feelings are going all out to
compromise her professional persona. Jamie, struggling to come to terms with
life back in the Fens, makes a pact with Anna – she has to teach him to
fall back in love with Wynthorpe Hall, while he helps her fall back in love
with Christmas. But will it all prove too much for Anna, or can the family
of Wynthorpe Hall warm her heart once and for all...? Join Anna for a festive
journey that is festooned with sleigh rides and silver bells and help her
discover her happy ever after.

VIVIEN BROWN

Lily Alone

Women's
fiction / domestic drama

Paperback

Harper
Impulse

5
October 2017

What
sort of mother would leave her daughter alone?

Would you leave a very
young child at home on their own – knowing that terrible things can happen in
the blink of an eye? Lily, who is not yet three years old, wakes up alone with
only her cuddly toy for company. She is hungry, afraid of the dark, can’t use
the phone, and has been told never to open the door to strangers. In the flat
downstairs, a lonely and elderly woman keeps herself to herself but wonders at
the cries coming from upstairs. Lily’s grandmother frets that she can no longer
see her granddaughter since the child’s parents separated. Lily’s father
hasn’t seen her for a while. He’s been abroad, absorbed in his new job and his
new girlfriend. A young woman lies in a coma in hospital – no one knows her
name or who she is, but in her silent dreams, a little girl is crying for her
mummy… And for Lily, time is running out.

LESLEY COOKMAN

Murder By The Barrel

Crime/Mystery

Paperback
and ebook

Accent
Press

5th October 2017

The
18th in the Libby Sarjeant series. Steeple
Martin is hosting its first Beer Festival, which, naturally, leads to murder.

JULES WAKE

Covent Garden in the Snow

Harper
Impulse

Romantic
Comedy

Paperback
and ebook

20th October 2017

Tilly Hunter has fabulous
friends, her dream job as a make-up artist with a prestigious opera company and
Felix, her kind and caring husband to be. It looks set to be the most perfect
Christmas yet!

But when a monumental
blunder forces her to work closely with new IT director Marcus
Walker, it's not only the roast chestnut stalls on the cobbles of her
beloved Covent Garden that cause sparks to fly

NORA FOUNTAIN

Pictures in Provence

Contemporary
romance

Endeavour
Press

8th September 2017

Joanna's first love is
art, although, to please her mother, she has come to Paris to study music at
the Conservatoire. Lured into an art gallery by an exquisite landscape painting
in the window, she is astonished to find a portrait of herself among the
exhibits.

The gallery owner,
Gilles Ledoux, invites her to the opera but soon leaves for his home in
Provence.

Joanna has an accident
and can't play her instrument for a while. She takes a job at Gilles' home
where he runs a summer school. He is cagey about the neighbour whose
exhibition she visited in Paris.

Could he be jealous?
What's going on?

JANICE PRESTON

Scandal and Miss Markham

Paperback
and ebook

Mills
& Boon

Historical
romance

1st
October 2017

Glassmaker’s daughter
Thea Markham is devastated when her brother Daniel goes missing. Then a mysterious lord
turns up asking questions about Daniel and offers to find him. Unsure she can trust the
handsome peer, Thea dresses up as a boy and follows him!

Lord Vernon Beauchamp
feels his life lacks direction. Meeting Thea gives him a
renewed purpose and when they are thrown together on their
scandalous adventure, friendship soon gives way to desire…

VICTORIA CORNWALL

The Thief's Daughter

Historical
Romance

Paperback

Choc
Lit

3rd
October 2017

Hide from the
thief-taker, for if he finds you, he will take you away …

Eighteenth-century
Cornwall is crippled by debt and poverty, while the gibbet casts a shadow of fear over the
land. Yet, when night falls, free traders swarm onto the beaches and smuggling
prospers.

Terrified by a
thief-taker’s warning as a child, Jenna has resolved to be good.

When her brother, Silas,
asks for her help to pay his creditors, Jenna feels unable to refuse and
finds herself entering the dangerous world of the smuggling trade.

Jack Penhale hunts down
the smuggling gangs in revenge for his father’s death.

Drawn to Jenna at a
hiring fayre, they discover their lives are entangled. But as Jenna
struggles to decide where her allegiances lie, the worlds of justice and crime
collide, leading to danger and
heartache for all concerned …

MARGARET MOUNSDON

Love Will Find A Way

Linford
Romance Library

Romantic
Adventure

1st October 2017

When Bethany Burnett
discovers her godfather Wendel Nelson holding a garden party in the
snow she isn't in the least surprised. What does take her breath away is the
sight of film director Sam Richards. His unexplained disappearance fuelled
media speculation for weeks.

Now it seemed he was
back and filming a costume drama at Waterbridge Manor, Wendel's country house.
When Wendel volunteers Bethany's services as Sam's assistant she fears troubled
times ahead.

LIZ EELES

Annie's Christmas By The Sea

Romantic comedy

Ebook and paperback

Bookouture

6th October 2017

On the beautiful coast of Cornwall lies the idyllic Salt Bay, where Christmas is the perfect time for bringing family and friends together…

Annie Trebarwith is happily settled in Salt Bay with her beloved great-aunt Alice and gorgeous boyfriend Josh Pasco. Snow is in the air, and Christmas is just around the corner. But when the father she’s never met, ageing rock god Barry, turns up with the half-sister Annie didn’t know existed, life suddenly gets complicated. Barry and Storm are soon clashing with the entire village, and their antics are even driving a wedge between Annie and Josh. Can Annie prevent her new family ruining the festivities and repair things with Josh in time for a cosy Christmas? Or will their relationship end up as frosty as the Salt Bay air? Annie’s Christmas by the Sea is a hilarious and heart-warming story about family, friends and the magic of Christmas, perfect for fans of Lily Graham, Holly Martin and Phillipa Ashley.

LISA HOBMAN

A Seaside Escape

Contemporary
romance

Ebook and paperback

Aria
Fiction

1st
October 2017

All work and no love can
make for a dull life. But cupid's arrow has a habit of striking when you least expect
it...

A heartwarming,
feel-good romance to curl up with this winter. Perfect for the fans of Marian
Keyes and Veronica Henry. Mallory Westerman is the successful proprietor of Le
Petit Cadeau, a gift shop extraordinaire in thriving Leeds. Concentrating
solely on her business, she has almost given up on finding someone to love.That
is until she literally falls into the arms of a handsome, intriguing stranger
who becomes her Knight in shining
armour.The whirlwind romance that ensues changes her life-path irrevocably.
However, the road to true love is never smooth and things don't always turn out
how you expect...

Shortlisted for the RNA
Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year 2014. This book was previously
published as A Bridge Over the Atlantic.

JAN JONES

Only Dancing

Linford
Romance Library

Large
Print

1st
September 2017

"Why was I
hesitating? What was the worst that could happen? That the magic clinging to
that crazy, wonderful time would be lost?"

... When Caroline visits
the David Bowie Is... exhibition at the V&A museum, she doesn’t expect to
be pitchforked into a forty-year-old mystery surrounding her older cousin
Jilly, who died in a hit-and-run accident on holiday in Italy. She
certainly doesn't expect the bittersweet piecing together of old
memories to bring new insights... and startling revelations. Coloured
by music, vibrant with Bowie, alive with the 1970s, ONLY DANCING is set in the
present day, but journeys through Caro’s flashbacks, gradually revealing a
chilling mystery - and its resolution

LYNN FORTH

Love in La La Land

Romantic Comedy

Paperback and ebook

Crooked Cat

10 October 2017

This contemporary romantic comedy is set in the glittering world of Hollywood where English author, Jane Jones, is thrilled by the prospect of seeing a scene from her novel being filmed. And not just any scene. It’s a bedroom one, starring screen heartthrob, Scott Flynn. Too bad, she is accompanied by the cynical Jack Clancy, the screenwriter who has ruined her story, and seems totally unrepentant. Dazzled by Scott’s film-star presence, Jane is overcome and soon finds herself in a tug of war between a movie star and screenwriter. But do they both have ulterior motives? Is Jane a mere pawn in a game between two fierce rivals?

In the bubble of La La Land’s glittering parties, hovering paparazzi, and powerful movie tycoons, Jane begins to feel adrift. She must quickly learn who can be trusted…and who can’t.PETER JONES

My Girlfriend’s Perfect Ex-Boyfriend

Romantic Comedy

Kindle & paperback

Soundhaven Books

8th October 2017

‘My Girlfriend’s Perfect Ex-Boyfriend’ follows the efforts of disillusioned school teacher Adrian Turner to win back the affections of feisty public relations executive Paige Steiglitz who – despite being Adrian’s girlfriend of eighteen months – seems to have one foot out of the door, and may harbour feelings for her amazing-in-every-way-but-still-hugely-annoying ex-boyfriend, Sebastian Tunbridge.

Both aided and hindered by Gary (Adrian’s incredibly bright but naïve fifteen-year-old student), and Nikita (a slightly bonkers Polish Private Detective), Adrian eventually finds himself at a wedding in Slovenia, with Sebastian in the room down the hall, and the serious possibility that he’s in danger of losing his job, his mind, and the woman he loves…

CHARLIE COCHRANE

Count the Shells

Riptide Publishing

Historical Gay Romance

Print and ebook

October 2017

Michael Gray returned from World War One injured, but at least he returned.

Others were not so fortunate, including his first and greatest love, Thomas Carter-Clemence, with whom Michael had parted bitterly before the conflict began.

Broch, the Carter-Clemence home in Porthkennack, was an integral part of pre-war holidays for the Grays, the two families drawn together in the wake of their sons’ friendship. Returning to the once-beloved Cornish coast for a break with his sister and her family, Michael has to find the courage to face old memories . . . and dare new relationships.When Thomas’s brother Harry makes an unexpected appearance, Michael is surprised to find himself deeply attracted to Harry for his own sake. But as their relationship heats up, it unearths startling revelations and bitter truths. Michael must decide whether Harry is the answer to his prayers or the last straw to break an old soldier’s back.

E-BOOKSELAINE EVEREST

Carols at Woolworths

Ebook

Saga

Pan
Macmillan

5th October 2017

Carols at Woolworths is
a heartwarming novella, and is the prequel to Christmas at Woolworths, by
bestselling author Elaine Everest

Betty, Freda and Sarah
are determined to make the Woolworths Christmas party as jolly as
ever. After weeks of careful planning, the girls are confident that it
will be an evening for everyone to forget about the troubles of the war
outside. But the war is never far away and when an air raid looms, the girls
must usher their guests to safety and find a way to take their Christmas
cheer underground . . .

Will it be a merry
Christmas after all for the girls of Woolworths?

VICTORIA CORNWALL

The Captain's Daughter

Historical
Romance

Ebook

Choc
Lit

3rd
October 2017

Beware
the strength of a quiet woman ...

After a family tragedy,
Janey Carhart was forced from her comfortable middle-class life as
a captain’s daughter into domestic servitude. Determined to make something
of herself, Janey eventually finds work as a lady’s maid at the imposing
Bosvenna Manor on the edge of Bodmin Moor but is soon caught between the
two worlds of upstairs and downstairs, and accepted by neither, as she cares
for her blind mistress. Desperately lonely, Janey catches the attention of two
men – James Brockenshaw and Daniel Kellow. James is heir to the Bosvenna estate,
a man whose eloquent letters to his mother warm Janey’s heart and whose
attention to her when he returns home set her pulse racing. Daniel Kellow is a
neighbouring farmer with a dark past and a brooding nature, yet with a
magnetism that disturbs Janey. Two men. Who should she choose? Or will
fate decide.

SARAH BENNETT

Christmas at Butterfly Cove (Butterfly Cove, Book
3)

Ebook

HQ
Digital

6th October 2017

All she wants for
Christmas…

When talented artist Nee
Sutherland returns to Butterfly Cove for her sister’s wedding, it’s only a matter of
time before she has to face her own bridegroom – Luke Spenser – the man she
impulsively married, then left in the middle of the night. Nee hasn’t picked up
her paintbrushes in months, a part of her is broken. She knows Luke might never
forgive her, leaving him was the biggest mistake of her life – but could coming
home for Christmas be the best decision she’s ever made? Maybe all she needs is
a little Christmas miracle… A delightfully feel-good festive romance, perfect
for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd.

SOPHIE WESTON

The Prince’s Bride

Romance

Ebook

Tule
Publishing

13th October 2017

"We needed a Prince
Charming. You were the best we could get."

As one of three royal
brothers in the Adriatic Principality of San Michele, His Serene Highness
Prince Jonas works hard and does his duty. But after a protocol-ridden evening
where he's just a prop in a photo shoot, he reckons he's due some private time
in his beloved forest. Hope Kennard was the daughter of the Manor in a
picture-perfect English village. But she's guarded her heart and honed her
survival instincts ever since her childhood ended in financial scandal and
the death of her beloved father.

Now she's just passing
through San Michele -- dog-sitting for a month before she moves on to another
country, another job. But then a charming Forest Ranger rescues her when she
doesn't need rescuing.

And this time her
instincts don't help…

LIZ FIELDING

The Bridesmaid's Royal Bodyguard

Contemporary
Romance

Ebook

Tule

18th October 2017

After being sacked from
her job on the gossip magazine Celebrity, Ally Parker is forced to return home
with her tail between her legs. She is given a fresh start when her childhood
friend, Hope, asks her to work PR for Hope’s marriage to Prince Jonas of San
Michele but when Count Fredrik Jensson, head of security for the royal family arrives
to check out the village, he makes it clear that her past employment makes
her unfit for the role. The fact that there’s a sizzle between them from
the moment they meet only makes everything worse.

JESSICA HART

The Baronet's Wedding Engagement

Contemporary
Romance

Ebook

Tule

16th October 2017

Sir Max Kennard has too
much Mr Rochester about him for Flora Dear's tastes but what harm can a
pretence relationship do if all it involves is a glamorous trip to San Michele
and smiling together at his sister's wedding? Apparently a lot... Soon, it's
hard to remember what's real and what's not.

ELLIE GRAY

Warwick's Mermaid

Contemporary
romance

Ebook

Tirgearr
Publishing

11th October 2017

Having escaped an
abusive relationship, Chloe MacGregor is determined to put the past behind
her. The little cottage high up on the cliffs overlooking the beautiful
North Yorkshire town of Whitby is her safe haven, somewhere she is free to be
herself. When the arrival of her new neighbour and boss, Luke Warwick,
threatens her peaceful, sheltered life, Chloe is forced to confront her past
and to re-evaluate who she really is.

Falling in love with
Luke is not part of her plan but, to her surprise, Luke is falling for her
too. The only thing preventing their happy ever after is Chloe
herself.

Will she ever truly
learn to leave the past where it belongs?

SUE MOORCROFT

The Little Village Christmas

Ebook

Avon
Books UK (HarperCollins)

9th October 2017 (paperback 2nd November 2017)

As soon as Alexia's
finished managing the conversion of the old Angel pub into the Angel Community
Café she's out of Middledip. Until someone runs away with all the money ...

INDIE PUBLISHEDR. F. LONG

Soul
Fire

Paranormal

Romance
ebook (paperback to follow)

31st
October 2017

Rowan thought she was in
trouble, with her art gallery struggling and all her finances tied up in
it. But when her path crosses with a Sídhe prince, she suddenly finds
herself in real danger. And unexpected, unstoppable passion. While
searching for his brother, Daire finds himself trapped in the human world and
in the arms of a woman who makes him rethink all he has ever known. Every
kiss brings pleasure beyond reckoning, sending him closer to the edge of
his inherent dark desires. Desires that act as a beacon for the Dark Sídhe, who
would seduce him to their cause. The more time he spends with Rowan, the
greater the risk that he will be trapped forever, or lost completely. And with
him the realm of the Seelie Sídhe. Because there's more to Rowan than meets the
eye.

RHODA BAXTER

Girl In Trouble

Contemporary
Romance

Ebook

9th October 2017

Grown-up tomboy Olivia
doesn't need a man to complete her. Judging by her absent father, men aren't
that reliable anyway. She's got a successful career, good friends and can
evict spiders from the bath herself, so she doesn't need to settle down, thanks.

Walter's ex is moving
his daughter to America and Walter feels like he's losing his family. When
his friend-with-benefits, Olivia, discovers she's pregnant by her douchebag ex,
Walter sees the perfect chance to be part of a family with a woman he loves.
But how can Walter persuade the most independent woman he's ever met to accept

his help, let alone his
heart?

LOUISE ALLEN

The Swordmaster’s Mistress (Book 2 of Dangerous
Deceptions)

Historical
romantic mystery

Ebook

October 2017

Hired to investigate
mysterious attacks on Guinevere, the wife, soon to be widow, of the elderly
Earl of Northam, Jared finds himself protecting a young lady not from a
haphazard stalker but from scandal – and possibly the noose. The instant
attraction crackling between them does not help his attempts at a dispassionate
enquiry, nor does finding himself embroiled with his own family and a past
of betrayal and dishonour he had left behind him to become
the swordmaster, Jared Hunt. Solving a murderous mystery leaves him
with a dilemma – what can the man he was, and the man he should become, offer a
countess with the scars of her own past to heal?

(Linked to Loving the
Lost Duke, Book One of Dangerous Deceptions, The Swordmaster’s Mistress can be
read as a stand-alone novel.)

The new releases list is compiled by Sheila Riley. Sheila joined the RNA in 2004 as a new writer. Since then she has written best-selling sagas as Annie Groves. She's a member of the North West Chapter of the RNA and loves to catch up with writer friends at the regular Southport lunches. Her latest release, Winter on the Mersey, is listed above.

The new email address for monthly publications is releases@romanticnovelistsassociation.org

Thank you Sheila for another great list - To Be Read piles across the country will be getting bigger today!

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Loves Me Loves Me Not

Romantic Novelists' Association

We work to enhance and promote the various types of romantic and historical fiction, to encourage good writing in all its many varieties, to learn more about our craft and help readers enjoy it.

Romantic Fiction covers an enormous range, from short stories through category romance and much of women's fiction, to the classics. The nature of romantic fiction means that most of these novels are written and read by women. The RNA, however, boasts a number of very successful male authors amongst their membership.